Intercommunicating device



Dec. 15, 1942; c. CVAVANAUGH EI'AL 2,304,796

INTERCOMMUNICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 7-, 19:59

' INVENTORS lake 6' Cara zzzagk Henry M Room? and ' M ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERCOMMUNICATINGDEVICE- Luke 0. Cavanaugh and Henry V. Roohk, Cleveland, OhioApplication November 7, 1939, Serial No. 303,267

17 Claims.

by the ear phone which operatively selects eitherthe loud speaker or theear phone.

A further object of our invention is to provide a private ear phonewhich is enclosed substantially entirely within the housing of theintercommunicating device thereby obviating the danger of accidentaldisplacement and breakage.

Another object of our invention is to provide a housing for anintercommunicating device which encloses the transmitter andsubstantially entirely encloses the ear phone thereby obviating arms andhooks which are apt to be acci-' dentally bumped or disturbed.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a switch between aloud speaker and an ear phone and to actuatethe switch by the movementof the ear phone.

Another object-of our invention is to resiliently hold the private yearphone in a receptacle in i the housing for the device by spring armswhich actuate switches.

A further object of our invention is to provide a housing or station boxfor an intercommunicating device which has a receptacle in its sideadapted to receive and substantially entirely enclose an ear phone.

Another object of our invention is to provide a substantially U-shapedholder with two switch means thereon and to position theholder so thatthe switches lie on either side of a receptacle in a housing for thedevice, whereby an ear phone placed in the receptacle or withdrawntherefrom will actuate both switches to control a hearing circuit and aselective circuit.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of our invention may be hadfrom the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which like parts are designated by likereference characters, and

in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric View of a station box or housing for anintercommunicating device and shows a private ear phone in a receptaclein the side of the box.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view partly in cross section of a portion of theinterior of the station box showing in detail the receptacle into whichthe private ear phone may be placed and the switches which are actuatedby the ear phone.

Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 2 but not shown in cross section, and

Figure 4 is a view showing a circuit diagram which may be used in astation box using our invention.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, our invention comprises a station boxor housing It for an electrical intercommunicating device. The box Iiicomprises a front H, a right side l2 and a top I8 as well as a leftside, a back and a base.

The station box Ill is substantially a complete. enclosure to protectthe mechanisms which are enclosed therein. The front ll of the stationbox It is divided down the center by, a brace I4 into a left opening l5and a right opening IS. The openings l5 and It are covered by a fabricscreen to allow sound to enter the station box and to emit therefrom.The opening I5 is adapted to receive the voice of a person who wishes toconverse with another station in the intercommunicating system.Transmitting means I! are positionedbehind the screened opening l5 andadapted to pick up the operators voice and transmit it to a receiver atthe other station. Behind the screened opening I6 is positioned a loudspeaker l8 which is adapted to receive the vocal sounds from anotherstation in the communicating system and amplify them so that they areaudible upon passing through the screened opening l6.

On the top 13 are mounted the various levers l9 and lights 20 which arenecessary to operate the system.

Besides having a loud speaker our station box or housing Ill is providedwith second means for receiving the vocal sounds from other stations inthe intercommunicating system. This second means is the private earphone 2| which is mounted in a receptacle 22 in the station box ID. Wepreferably mount the private ear phone 2| in the right side l2 of thestation box In as most people are right handed. However, it is to beunderstood that the private ear phone 2| may be mounted in the left sidefor left handed persons or in the front side It or in the top l3. A cord23 having wires 44 and 45 connects the private ear phone 2| with theproper circuits in the station box Ill. Ihe cord 23 is of'suflicientlength to enable a person to place thestation boxlU on a far corner ofthe desk at which he ables a person to wedge the private ear phone vbetween his shoulder and his ear whereit will 7 stay. Both of thelisteners hands are then free,

enabling him to search through a file and write at the same time as hereceives private directions from another station.

The receptacle 22 in which the private car phone 2| is mounted isattached to the right side of the station box ID by means of screws 24.When the ear phone 2| is completely inserted in the receptacle 22, theexposed end is substantially flush with the side |2 of the station boxor housing. This arrangement not only gives a good appearance but alsoavoids accidental displacement. The receptacle 22 is substantially cupshaped and has a flared opening at the open end to' facilitate thepositioning of the private ear-phone therein. To the other or" rear endof the receptacle 22 there is attached a substantially U-shaped bracket25 having legs 21. Any means of attaching the U-shaped bracket to thereceptacle 22 may be used but we prefer nuts and bolts 26. The U-sha'pedbracket 25 is positioned in such a manner that the legs 21 lie along thereceptacle 22 andsubstantiallyparallel therewith. Mounted on the legs 21by means of bolts 28 are a pair of switches 29 and 34. Spring levers 30are attached to the switches 29 and 34 by means of bolts 3|. The springlevers 30 extend through slots 32 in the receptacle 22 into the spacenormally occupied by the private ear phone 2| where they are adapted tobe actuated by the withdrawal of the private ear phone 2| and by thereplacing of the ear phone into the receptacle 22 Switch buttons 33 arepositioned under the spring levers 39 and are normally biased outwardtoward the spring levers. The removal of the private ear phone 2| fromthe receptacle 22 allows the spring levers 30 tornove away from theswitches 29 and 34 thereby releasing the pressure on the switch buttons33 causing the switches 29 and 34 to operate. Conversely, whentheprivate car phone, 2| is placed in the receptacle-22 it engages bothspring levers 39 and causes pressure to be exerted on the switch buttons33. Pressure on the switch buttons 33 causes the switches 29 and 34 tooperate.

Beside acting as levers to operate the'switch-es 29 and 34 the springlevers 30 function to snug 1y hold the private ear phone 2|"in thereceptacle 22. The station box It) may be moved about and tipped but theprivate ear phone will not fall out of the receptacle 22. 1

The switch 29 operates to govern the voice receiving circuit and selecteither the loudspeaker IE or the private car phone 2|. Figure 4 shows adiagram of the voice circuit when the private earphone 2| is in thereceptacle 22. The voice circuit which originates at another station boxin the intercommunicating system enters the station'box I!) along wire49 and may be traced as follows': from wire 40 the current flows intothe switch 29 and out along'wire 4| into the loud speaker l8, and fromthe loud speaker l8 current flows along wires 42 and 53 back to theother station box to complete the circuit. It may be seen therefore thatwhen the private ear phone 2| is in the receptacle 22 the loud speakerI8 is wired to operate. If the private ear phone 2| is removed from thereceptacle 22 the switch 29 operates in the opposite direction as theswitch button 33 is normally biased to move toward the space occupied bythe private ear phone 2|. The movement of the switch button 33 breaksthe loud speaker circuit and estab such as the light 29 indicates thatthere is a callfor him he can hear it'by means of the loud speaker l8without operating any switches. If, however, there is some other personin conference with him and he does not want the other.

person to hear his message he need only withdraw the private ear phone 2I, and place it to his ear and the loud speaker I8 is automaticallysilenced and the call switched to the private ear phone.

The switch 34 is actuated by the normal movements of the private carphone 2| and may be used to regulate selecting circuits in theintercommunicating system, through conductors 35 and 36.

Although we have described our invention with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details ofconstruction and the combinascope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed;

We claim as our invention:

1. A voice transmitting and-receiving stationfor use in a communicatingsystem comprising in combination, an enclosure having a well} voicetransmitting means in said enclosure adapted to send a voice to a secondstation in saidcommunicating system, voice receiving means adapted toreceive a voice from said second station, said voice receiving meanscomprising a loud speaker in said enclosure and a private ear phoneremovably mounted in said well, and 3 movably mounted private ear phonemeans in said enclosure for receiving sound and switch means actuated bymoving said private ear phone means into and out of said enclosure torender operable and inoperable said loud speaker means and said privateear phone means, said switch means also restraining said ear phone insaid receptacle.

3'. In a/statiomhousingfor aniintercommunicating system havingreceivermeans and a receptacle adapted to removably'receivesaid'receiver'mean's, the combination of switch means mountedin. thestation housing comprising; a substantially Ur-shaped holdermounted inthe station. housing, twgswitches mounted :on said U-shaped holder, saidU-shaped holder support ing the receptacle between saidrtwo switches.switchv actuating levers mounted on said switches and extending into thesaid receptacle, whereby said switches are actuated byzsaidreceivermeansbeing inserted into'or removed. from said'receptacle and engaging ordisengaging said switch actuating levers;

4. In a station housing for. an intercommunieating system havingreceiver means and a cupped-shaped receptacle: adapted to removablyreceive said receiver means, the combination of switch means'mounted inthe stationhousing comprising, switch actuating means connected to said.switch" means and-extending in said cup shaped receptacle whereby it isengaged'by the receiver means in said". cup .shaped receptacle anddisengaged when saidreceiver is withdrawn for selectively turning saidloud speaker and said ear phone on and ofi; said resilient engaging armsalso. restraining said.v ear phone in said receptacle. I

6. A sound receiving device comprising in combination, an enclosure witha stationary'rece'ptaole therein, loud speaker means in said enclosure,switch means in said stationaryreceptacle and ear. phone means adaptedto be inserted substantially entirely within'said stationary receptacle,said ear phone means actuating said switch means to turn said loudspeaker and said ear phone means on and off, said switch meansrestraining said ear phone in said receptacle.

'7. A sound receiving device comprising, in combination, an enclosurewith a stationary receptacle therein, loud speaker means in saidenclosure, switch means in said stationary receptacle and ear phonemeans adapted tobe inserted in said stationary receptacle, said earphone means actuating said switch means to operate said loud speaker andsaid ear phone means, said switch means restraining said ear phone insaid receptacle.

8. A sound receiving device comprising, in combination, an enclosurewith a stationary receptacle therein, switch means in said enclosure,spring lever means adapted to actuate said switch means and extendingfrom said enclosure into said stationary receptacle and ear phone meansgoverned by the switch means and adapted to be substantially entirelyinserted in said stationary receptacle and adapted to engage said springlever means to actuate said switch means, said spring lever means alsorestraining said ear phone means in said stationary receptacle.

9. A sound receiving device comprising in combination, an enclosure witha walled stationary receptacle therein, switch means attached to andextending through therwall' "of said stationary 're.

cepta'cle and ear phonemea'ns governed by the switch means and adaptedtobe substantially en- 1 tirely, insertediin said stationary receptacle toactuate said switch means, said switch means .re-

straining said ear phone in said receptacle.

1'0. A stationforparr intercommunicating system comprising;in'co-mbination, a substantially enclosed station housing having areceptacle therein, said receptacle comprising a. cylinder with-one endthereof 1 closed, a transmitting device in said housing 1 for sendingcommunications to a second station in said system, receiving means insaid housing forreceiving communications from said second station; saidreceiving means comprising a loud speaker and a substantiall cylindricalprivate car phone, said private ear phone positioned substantiallyentirely'within said receptacle and adaptedto be withdrawn and placed atthe operators ear and switch means in said receptacle actuated by saidprivate' ear phone for rendering said" loud speaker inoperable when saidprivate car phone is operable" and for rendering said private ear phonein operable when said loud speaker is operable.

11. A stationfor an intercommunicating system comprising, incombination, a station housing having a receptacle therein, a soundtransmitter in said station housing, an ear phone -;adapted to beremovably placed in said receptacle, a loud speaker'in-said stationhousing, two switch meansin said-station housing positioned on oppositesides ofsaidreceptacle, spring means attached to said two switch meansand extend- .-,ing into said receptacle for actuating said two switchmeans as said ear phone is moved in or out of said receptacle; saidspring means also adapted to restrainsaid ear phone in said receptacle,one of said switch means turning said loud speaker and said ear phone onand off and the other of said switch means being connected in-thecircuit ofthe intercommunicating system.

12'. A-sound transmitting and receiving station for use in acommunicating system comprising,

in combination, an enclosed station'box having a front side enclosingmeans and a plurality of other side enclosing means, said front sideenclosing means having opening means therein, a loud speaker positionedin the said enclosed station box and substantially behind the saidopening means, a transmitter positioned in the said enclosed station boxand substantially behind the said opening means, said enclosed stationbox having a receiver well in one of said other side enclosing means,movable private car phone means adapted to be placed within saidreceiver well, switch means in said enclosed station box to selectivelyrender operable and inoperable the said loud speaker means and the saidprivate ear phone means, resilient switch arm means adapted to actuatesaid switch means, said resilient switch arm means extending into thesaid receiver well and adapted to be actuated upon engagement by thesaid private ear phone in the well means.

13. A sound transmitting and receiving station for use in acommunicating system comprising,

in combination, an enclosed station box having a front side enclosingmeans and a plurality of other side enclosing means, said front sideenclosing means having two screened openings therein, a loud speakerpositioned in said enclosed station box and substantially behind one ofthe said screened openings, a transmitter positioned in the saidenclosed station box and phone means therein, switch means in said'enclosed station box to selectively render operable and inoperable thesaid loud speaker means and the said private ear phone means, resilientswitch armmeans adapted to actuate said switch means, said resilientswitch arm means extending into the said receiver well and adapted to beactuated upon engagement by the said private ear phone means in the wellmeans.

14. A sound transmitting and receiving station for use in acommunicating system comprising, in combination, an enclosed station boxhaving a front side enclosing means and a plurality of other sideenclosing means, said front side enclosing means having opening meanstherein, a loud speaker positioned in the said enclosed station box andsubstantially behind the said opening means, a transmitter positioned inthe said enclosed station box and substantially behind the said openingmeans, said enclosed station box 7 having a receiver well in one of saidother side enclosing means, movable private ear phone means adapted tobe placed within said receiver well, two spaced switch means in saidenclosed station box to selectively render operable and inoperable thesaid loud speaker means and the said private ear phone means, resilientswitch arm means to actuate said switch means, said substantially behindthe other :of 'the' said two two switches mounted on said'U-shaped'holdei',

said U-shaped holder supporting; thereceptacle between said twoswitches, resilient switch actuating levers mountedon said switches andex- 1 tending into the said receptacle, said switches being actuated bythe receiver means' engaging said resilient switch actuatinglevers insaid rece'p' 1' tacle. I

16. A sound transmitting and receiving station for use in acommunicating system comprisingf" its ends closed and one of its endsopen and having slotted opening 'meansj-inits wall, private":

ear phone means having a'substantially cylinv-s drical shape and adaptedto slide intothe said receptacle through the open end thereofyswitchmeans in said enclosed station box to selectivelyrender operable andinoperable the said loud'- speaking means and the said private car phonemeans, resilient switch arm means adapted to actuate said switch means,said resilient switch arm means extending through the said slotted"opening means and adapted tobe actuated upon engagement by said privateear phone means,

said private earphone means substantially. close"- ing the said open endof the receptacle;

1'7. In a station housing for anintercommunb cating system havingreceiver-means and a re-'* ceptacle adapted to removablyreceive saidre'-'" .ceiver means, the combination of switch means mounted in thestation housing comprising,-

spaced mounting means, spaced switch means mounted on said spacedmounting means, said spaced mounting means supporting the recepta-- clebetween said two switches, resilient switch actuating levers adapted toactuate said switches and arranged to extend intosaid'receptacle, saidswitches being actuated by the receiver means" engaging said resilientswitch actuating levers in said receptacle.

HENRY V. ROOHK.

LUKE c. CAVANAUGH. r

